The Air Force is pursuing the next generation Global Positioning System in two phases, according to Space and Missile Systems Center. One phase for the new GPS Block III satellite and one for a new control segment—dubbed OCX—that will be able to control all block upgrades to the GPS satellites. Responding this week to questions, SMC officials said they expect OCX to be operational by 2012. The center plans to issue the contract award for GPS Block III in June, with the first Block IIIA satellite ready for launch by 2013.
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…